Dunstall Park Greyhound Stadium will ramp up its open race programme in November to align with Sky Sports Racing’s new dedicated show The Box Seat, which launches this week.
The Wolverhampton venue, which opened its doors in September 2025 following a multi-million-pound investment by Arena Racing Company, will advertise nine weekly open races with top-grade action scheduled every Wednesday from November 4.
Category Three finals and heats will operate every week on a rolling basis, with a variety of sprint, standard and stayers races also planned.
Prize money for each Category Three final has been confirmed as £500 to the winner, with heats winners collecting £300 and all runners receiving £100. Minor open winners meanwhile will earn £350 for winning connections (£100 for others), with maiden events held for £325 (£80 for others).
The open race fixture boost comes after Sky Sports Racing confirmed it will broadcast a weekly show on Wednesday evenings to shine a spotlight on the UK greyhound racing scene.
Hosted by Darrell Williams with input from trackside reporter Anthony Ellis plus contributions from Jonathan Hobbs, Emily Wallis, Ryan Conneely and Dani Jackson, the show will air from 6pm until 10.30pm and broadcast racing live from Dunstall Park and Romford.
Martin Seal, Racing Manager at Dunstall Park Greyhound Stadium, expects the track’s new open race schedule to attract some of the UK’s top prospects and existing stars.
“Already in our short history, we’ve witnessed some historic moments at Dunstall Park,” said Martin.
“Butlers Lane’s Oaks triumph last year and a first Category One title for Rugby Union legend turned greyhound trainer Mike Burton stand out personally.
“Having a consistent open race schedule with Category Three finals programmed every week will no doubt appeal to trainers and connections. We’re pragmatic and flexible, and will adapt the schedule to suit demand where possible for those connected to the sport – including staging marathon races.
“The Box Seat is a great way to open up greyhound racing to a community which sits beyond the boundaries of our existing audience.
“We’re proud to be part of its launch and the programme’s vision to showcase our sport to new people, which remains a key priority of our operation at Dunstall Park.”
Meanwhile the UK’s newest greyhound racing venue launched its sixth Category One competition on Saturday when hosting Round One of the £20,000 Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks.
The premier bitches competition, which celebrates its 94th renewal this year, was oversubscribed when entries closed with 72 greyhounds confirmed.
Mark Wallis’ Strike It Skye qualified fastest when clocking 27.94 in Heat Four. Brian Fairbairn’s Slingshot Poppy, a dual Category Two winner, also caught the eye when winning Heat Two in 28.01.
Martin added: “It was a really competitive evening of racing.
“We had winners out of every trap across the 12 heats with greyhounds winning off the front and by coming from off the pace.
“All the pre-competition favourites advances, which sets up a mouth-watering night of racing for Round Two on Saturday.”
Details of Dunstall Park’s full open race schedule on Wednesday nights will be available soon.
Trainers will be able to enter greyhounds until 1pm on each Saturday preceding the respective race they are entering.
Tickets for all Wednesday and Saturday night fixtures at Dunstall Park for the remainder of 2026 are available online from £5 via www.dunstallpark-greyhounds.co.uk.
